Central assistance to Bihar, Assam, Rajasthan for drinking water

New Delhi, Oct 1 (UNI) The Ministry of Rural Development has cleared a Central Assistance of Rs 784.8165 crores to the State Governments of Assam, Bihar and Rajasthan under Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) (Normal) during the current financial (2008-09).

An amount of Rs 91.6215 crore has been accorded to Assam State Government under ARWSP (Coverage-Normal, Swajaldhara and Sub-Mission on Water Quality) towards balance of first installment of funds against the allocation of Rs 246.44 crore during the current financial year.

From the Central Assistance of Rs 239.69 crore to Bihar, Rs 2.00 crore are being given to meet the rural drinking water supply requirements arising due to heavy rains/flood situations in the state in 2007. Similarly, Rs 25 crore have been earmarked under the same head for the heavy rains/flood situations of August 2008.

All this assistance is provided out of the 5 per cent of of the total Central Rural Supply Outlay earmarked for contingencies arising due to natural calamities/disaster. The fund is released on 100 per cent central share basis. Under the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission Rs 212.69 crore are to be allocated as second installment of funds against the original allocation of Rs 425.38 crore made for the state for ARWSP (Coverage-Normal, Swajaldhara and Sub-Mission) during the financial year 2008-09.

The Rajasthan Govermment is to receive Rs 115.87 crore towards second installment of ARWSP-DDP (Drought prone area Development Programme) funds against the original allocation of Rs 231.74 crore for execution/completion of schemes to provide safe drinking water facilities to rural habitations and schools under the Centrally Sponsored ARWSP-DDP Areas as per the priorities indicated in the guidelines.

This release is being made for execution/completion of schemes to provide safe drinking water to rural habitations and schemes under the Centrally sponsored ARWSP. Priorities set in ARWSP guidelines and through other instructions issued from time to time shall be followed for coverage of rural habitations and rural schools.

States have been requested to delegate powers for management of Rural Water Supply Schemes through the Panchayati Raj Institutions PRIs) as per the Constitutional provisions. As such, the operation and maintenance of the completed RWS schemes should be transferred to the PRIs.

UNI AJ SB CS1931